ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Vice President's Secretariat
Vice President greets the nation on the eve of Independence Day
The Vice President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar has wished the people on the eve of Independence Day. Following is the full text of his message -
“I extend my warm greetings and good wishes to the people of our country on the joyous occasion of 76th Independence Day.
Today, as we celebrate the immense progress made over the last seventy five years, let us not forget how hard-won our freedom is. Independence Day is an occasion to remember and pay tribute to those valiant freedom fighters whose courage and sacrifice brought us freedom from the oppressive colonial rule.
This day is also an occasion to pay our gratitude to the builders of modern India whose hard work and dedication laid the foundation of a sovereign, stable and strong republic. Today, India is a country brimming with potential, surging ahead on the path of all round development.
As India celebrates Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, it is time to recall and retell the inspiring stories of our great revolutionaries and freedom fighters so as to encourage the younger generation to imbibe the virtues of patriotism, sacrifice and service.
On this Independence Day, let us renew our pledge to uphold the civilizational ethos of ‘Bharat’ and constitutional values and rededicate ourselves to further gallop towards building an inclusive, progressive and prosperous India.”
Special Service and Features
SCTIMST Scientist makes to 7th ‘BRICS Young Scientist Forum’ 2022, China Conclave
Shri. Arvind Kumar Prajapati, Scientist/Engineer at Bio-Medical Technology Wing, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology , Thiruvananthapuram, has been selected for 7th BRICS Young Scientists Forum. This year BRICS Young Scientists Forum is hosted by China, from 29 August 2022 - 1 September 2022. by an Expert Selection Committee set up by the Department of Science and Technology , Government of India and National Institute of Advance Studies .
BRICS Young Scientist Forum is a reputed forum among five BRICS countries which has pool of creative scientists for solving the common societal problems through research and innovation. Every year, five young Scientists are considered for Forum from India under each theme.
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Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying
Status of Avian Influenza in the country
Till 30thJanuary, 2021 outbreaks of Avian Influenza  have been confirmed in 10 States/UTs  for poultry birds and in 13 States/UTs  for Crow/Migratory/ Wild birds.
Avian Influenza has been confirmed in domestic fowl in Udhampur  district of Jammu and Kashmir UT.
Further, Avian Influenza has been confirmed in crow samples in Hamirpur district of Himachal Pradesh; Paschim Champaran district of Bihar and in samples from peacock in Udhampur  as well as samples of crow in Poonch of UT of Jammu & Kashmir.
Sanitization Certificate has been issued and Post Operation Surveillance Plan  is in place for all the epicentres of poultry outbreak in the states of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.
Control and Containment Operations  are going on in the affected epicentres of Haryana, Maharashtra,Chhattisgarh, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.
Surveillance work is continued at the places where positive results have been reported in species of birds excluding poultry.
Compensation is paid to farmers whose poultry birds, eggs and poultry feed are culled/disposed of by the State as per the Action Plan. The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying , Government of India provides funds to states / UTs on a 50:50 sharing basis under ASCAD component of its LH & DC Scheme.
All the States are reporting to the Department on daily basis regarding the control measures adopted by the States/UTs based on the Revised Action Plan for Prevention, Control and Containment of Avian Influenza 2021.
The Department is maintaining itsefforts to generate awareness about Avian through platforms including social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook handles.
Ministry of Defence
Air Marshal Sk Ghotia VSM takes over command as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief training command
Air Marshal SK Ghotia VSM took over as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Training Command today.
Air Marshal is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and was commissioned in the fighter stream of IAF in Dec 1981. He is a Qualified Flying Instructor with more than 1000 hrs of instructional experience. He has undergone the Air Staff Course, Higher Air Command Course and holds two Masters Degrees. He has served as a Directing Staff at the prestigious Defence Services Staff College Wellington.
Air Marshal has held a number of important appointments, which includes, Commanding Officer of a fighter squadron, Chief Operations Officer and Station Commander of a Forward Air Base in South Western Air Command. He has also served in a number of Staff appointments, which include Director Intelligence at Air HQs, Ops 1 A of Western Air Command, Principal Director Training  at Air HQs, Air Attache at Embassy of India, Paris, Air Officer Commanding COBRA Group and Assistant Chief of the Air Staff . Prior to assuming the present appointment, he was the Senior Air Staff Officer of Training Command.
During his illustrious career, Air Mshl was commended by the Air Officer Commanding-In-Chief, WAC in 1994 and Vishist Seva Medal in 2007.
Air Mshl Ghotia is married to Mrs Nirmala Ghotia and they are blessed with two daughters.
Ministry of Women and Child Development
Poshan Maah event by WCD Ministry
The Ministry of Women and Child Development  organised a day-long camp in Shastri Bhavan in New Delhi today. Rabindra Panwar, Secretary, Ministry of WCD inaugurated the Test, Treat and Talk  Anaemia and Defeat Diarrhoea  camp on the premises of one of the largest Government buildings in New Delhi. Shastri Bhavan houses many Ministries and departments of the Government of India where large numbers of people work and visit every day. The Ministry of WCD, as part of the POSHAN maah, reached out to all employees and visitors to create awareness regarding simple solutions to Anaemia and Diarrhoea.
The Anaemia, Test, Treat and Talk will give the haemoglobin status and also offer counselling services on the prevention and control of Anaemia. The use of ORS and zinc tablets for Diarrhoea control and counselling services on the prevention and control of Diarrhoea are being offered at the camp.
The month of September is celebrated and observed as Rashtriya POSHAN maah. The activities in the POSHAN maah are focussed on Social Behavioural Change and Counselling . The broad themes are: antenatal care, optimal breastfeeding , complementary feeding, anaemia, growth monitoring, girls’ education, diet, right age of marriage, hygiene, and sanitation, eating healthy and food fortification.
The Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nutrition or POSHAN Abhiyaan or National Nutrition Mission, is Government of India’s flagship programme to improve nutritional outcomes for children, pregnant women and lactating mothers.
Office of Principal Scientific Advisor to GoI
Bill Gates, Co-chair and Trustee of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, called on Prof Ajay Sood
Bill Gates, Co-chair and Trustee of the Gates Foundation, visited the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India to meet Prof Ajay K Sood to understand priorities and explore further collaborations.
During his visit, Prof. Sood gave an overview of the work of the Office of PSA's wide-ranging engagements, including the National Missions on One Health, Quantum Technologies, Livelihood, Green Hydrogen, One Nation One Subscription etc. The discussion focused majorly on priority engagements of One Health Mission, Waste to Wealth Mission with the Foundation.
Mr Gates appreciated the focus on science and technology initiatives. He expressed interest in supporting the Government of India’s efforts on the upcoming One Health Mission and the power of environmental surveillance for disease control. He stressed the need for innovations to address animal health, disease modelling and novel diagnostics technologies. He further emphasised the opportunity for India to support both domestic and global challenges in these areas.
Mr Gates was accompanied by Dr Trevor Mundel, President of Global Health, Mr Hari Menon, Country Director-India, and Mr Harish Iyer, Deputy Director, Digital & Health Innovation. They met Dr  Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary, Office of the PSA; Dr Preeti Banzal; Adviser/Scientist 'G'; Dr Monoranjan Mohanty, Adviser/Scientist 'G'; Dr Ketaki Bapat, Adviser/Scientist 'G'; Dr Sindura Ganapathi, Visiting PSA Fellow; Dr Sapna Poti, Director, Strategic Alliances Division and other officials.
Ministry of Defence
Research And Development Projects Of DRDO
Defence Research and Development Organization  undertakes various Research and Development  projects through its laboratories working in different technical domains. During 2019-2021, 249 R&D projects were sanctioned by DRDO. Some of the major projects undertaken by various laboratories of DRDO are in the areas of :-
• Missiles
• Radars
• Armoured vehicles
• Anti-Tank ammunition, Rockets, Machine Gun and Fuzes
• Sonars and Torpedo
• Mine Detection System
• Anti-Airfield Weapon
• Fire Fighting & Protection System
• Maritime Situational Awareness Systems, Border Surveillance System
• Automatic Transmission
• Small Turbo Fan Engine
• New Generation Radios, SATCOM System
• Autonomous Underwater Vehicle
• EW Systems and Chaff Cartridges
• Air Container
• Fuel Cells
• Ordinance Handling Robot
• Seekers
• System on Chip
• Navigation System
• MEMS Switches
• Parachute Systems
Some of the major technologies developed by DRDO during last 3 years include:
• Quantum Random Number Generator and Quantum Key Distribution
• Hypersonic test Demonstration
• ASAT Demonstration
• Single Crystal Blades
• Stealth Technology
• Advanced AI Technologies
• Electromagnetic Launch Technology
• Nanotechnologies
• Complex Concentrated Alloys
• Countermeasure Technologies
• Composite Armour Technologies
• Bioremediation Technology
• Theatre and Terrain Based Food Technologies
• Propulsion Technology
• Cognitive Target Detection
• Multifunctional Moisture Barrier for Fire Protective Suits
• Underwater Communication
• Biomedical Support Systems
• Halon Alternatives and Eco-Friendly Fire Fighting Foam
• Advanced Materials and Materials for Hypersonic
• Advanced Functional Materials
• Advanced Nano Fluid Technology
• Novel Nanomaterials and Hybrid Nanocomposites
• Early Warning System for Landslides
• Low Vulnerable High Performance Propellant
• High Energy Materials
• High Power Millimeter Wave Gyrotron
• Adaptive Composite Structure
• Avalanche Assessment and Avalanche Forecasting
• Advanced Personal Protective System
• Advanced Piezomaterials
• Panels for Blast and Ballistic Resistance
• Additive Manufacturing and Polymer Composites
• Network Security Assessment Techniques
• THz Detector
Separate fund is being allocated to DRDO as part of Defence Services Estimates. The allocation is being made under Revenue and Capital segments separately. The fund includes expenditure on various heads like Research & Development, Pay & Allowances. Transportation, Stores, Works, Training & Other expenditure under Revenue segment and Mach & Equip and Works under Capital segment. This Budgetary allocations is being utilized for undertaking various R&D projects and execution of Strategic schemes. The total provisions to D DR&D in BE  for the FY 2022-23 is Rs. 21330.20 crore.
This information was given by Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Ajay Bhatt in a written reply to Shrimati Nusrat Jahan Ruhi in Lok Sabha on April 01, 2022.
Ministry of Finance
CBDT Chairman inaugurates Web Portal for exchange of information on Income Tax Website
Shri P.C. Mody, Chairman, Central Board of Direct Taxes , inaugurated the Web Portal for Exchange of Information on Income Tax Website here today.
The Web Portal consolidates all the relevant Automatic Exchange of Information  related information at one place for convenient access by financial institutions, Departmental officers as well as public at large.
India is committed to exchange financial account information automatically from 2017 under the Common Reporting Standard  on Automatic Exchange of Information . Information is reported annually by financial institutions which are then exchanged by India under the standard.
The Web Portal would be a repository of policy and technical circulars/guidance/notifications issued by the CBDT, and provide links to relevant circulars/guidance issued by the regulatory authorities in India and other international bodies. The portal would not only be useful for the domestic financial institutions but will also help the foreign tax authorities and financial institutions to get information about the Indian laws, rules and procedures related to AEOI under CRS.
To implement the AEOI standard, necessary domestic legal framework was put in place in 2015. A comprehensive Guidance Note was released on 31st August 2015 to provide guidance to the financial institutions, sectoral regulators and officers of the Income Tax Department for ensuring compliance with the reporting requirements under the Income-tax Act and Rules. The sectoral regulators have also issued necessary notifications and circulars for compliance by the financial institutions. Stakeholder consultations are also carried out by CBDT to educate financial institutions about their reporting obligations. In its persistent endeavour to reach out to the financial institutions and account holders, CBDT has created an Exchange of Information portal on the Income-tax Department website for dissemination of information to all stakeholders.
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Eminent Banker Shri Suresh N. Patel takes oath as Vigilance Commissioner today
Shri Suresh N. Patel took oath as Vigilance Commissioner today. Following social distancing norms, he was administered the oath of office by Shri Sanjay Kothari, Central Vigilance Commissioner on video link. The swearing in ceremony was attended by Shri SharadKumar, Vigilance Commissioner, Secretary and other senior officers of the Commission.
Shri Patel had over three decades of experience in the banking sector. He was the Managing Director & CEO of Andhra Bank and was an Executive Director in Oriental Bank of Commerce. He had been Member, Management Committee, Indian Banks’ Association; Member, Bankers’ Institute of Rural Development, NABARD; President, State Level Bankers’ Committee, Andhra Pradesh and President, Bankers’ Institute of Rural & Entrepreneurship Development.
He is a Permanent Invitee to the Board for Regulation and Supervision of Payment and Settlement Systems  of RBI and a member of the Advisory Board for Banking and Financial Frauds  prior to his appointment as Vigilance Commissioner.
The tenure of Vigilance Commissioner is of four years or till the incumbent attains the age of 65 years. The Central Vigilance Commission can have a Central Vigilance Commissioner and two Vigilance Commissioners.
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Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
Shri Nitin Gadkari Says India Trying to Make Chabahar Port in Iran Operational by 2019
Inaugurates Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre at Dushanbe
Shri Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Road Transport & Highways and Shipping said in Dushanbe yesterday, that India is trying to make Chabahar Port in Iran operational by 2019. Shri Gadkari was addressing the Indian Community at the inauguration of the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre at the Indian Embassy in Dushanbe. He said the opening up of the Chabahar Port would make the CIS countries more accessible.
Shri Gadkari also spoke at length about the efforts and initiatives taken by the NDA Government in the last four years to bring qualitative change in the lives of people. He talked about the massive work being done in the infrastructure sector, with National Highways being built at an unprecedented pace of 28km/day. He said the country is growing at a very fast pace under a corruption free, transparent and committed government led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. India's image and respect has grown across the world in the last four years and our rankings have improved globally on various parameters like ease of doing business, cleanliness etc, he added.
Shri Nitin Gadkari was on a two day official visit to Tajikistan to represent India at the high level global conference on “International Decade for Action: Water for Sustainable Development”. He held wide-ranging talks with Shri Sirodjidin Muhridin, Foreign Minister of Tajikistan during this visit, in which the two leaders underlined the need to give further impetus to the ongoing bilateral cooperation in various fields and agreed to enhance mutual cooperation in the area of sustainable water development. Shri Gadkari had also conveyed to the Tajikistan leader, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's commitment towards expanding economic cooperation between the two countries and said that New Delhi would be willing to share with Tajikistan, Indian expertise in building quality infrastructure.
Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre at Dushanbe will offer classes in Hindi, Sanskrit, Yoga and various performing arts like music and dance to the Indian diaspora as well as Tajik people. The Centre has generated a lot of interest and excitement amongst the Tajik people.
Ministry of Education
Steps taken by the Government to improve Educational Infrastructure in North-Eastern States
University Grants Commission  is implementing schemes, awards, fellowships, chairs and programmes under which financial assistance is provided to institutions of higher education as well as faculty members working in North Eastern States to undertake quality research covering areas of knowledge across disciplines. Some of the initiatives taken for improving quality of higher education are  Choice Based Credit System ;  Universities with Potential for Excellence;  Centre with Potential for Excellence in particular area;  Consortium for Academic Research and Ethics  Basic Science Research  Scheme for Trans-disciplinary Research for India's Developing Economy   Deen Dayal Upadhyaya  Kaushal Kendras  Scholarship Scheme  for North-Eastern Region;  New Methodology of Grading by NAAC  UGC  Regulations, 2016;  UGC  Regulation, 2016.
All India Council of Technical Education  has taken several steps over the years for framing appropriate policies on technical education needed to design and implement various schemes for educational advancement and achieving the objective of creating favorable environment to ensure speedy socio-economic development in North East States. This includes equipping all necessary infrastructure upgradation of colleges, special coaching, educational concessions, better teaching learning material and infrastructure for North East region students. Some of the Schemes are  Research Promotion Scheme for North East Region;  Short Term Training Programme for NER;  Faculty Development Programme for NER;  Scheme of Funds for Regeneration of Traditional Industries ;  Post Graduate Scholarship Scheme;  Doctoral Fellowship;  Pragati Scholarship Scheme;  Saksham Scholarship Scheme;  Campus Accommodation & Facilities Enhancing Social Experience;  Grant for Augmenting Infrastructure in NER;  Scheme for Promoting Interests, Creativity and Ethics among Students;  Grant for Organizing Conference;  Establishment of Idea Development, Evaluation & Application Laboratory in Institutions; and  E-Shodh Sindhu .
The information was given by the Union Minister of Education, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan in a written reply in the LokSabha today.
Ministry of Jal Shakti
Ministry of Jal Shakti announces Internship Programme for Mass Communication students
New Delhi, 11th August, 2023
Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, has invited applications from students of Mass Communication from recognised institutions and universities for an internship program with the department. The short-term program is aimed at giving an exposure to the selected candidates an opportunity to be associated with the department’s media and social media activities.
Research scholars or students, who are pursuing studies in BA or MA courses in Mass Communication or Journalism or students who have completed their Degree in aforesaid courses from any recognized college or university are eligible to apply for the program subject to the conditions as mentioned in the guidelines. Post Graduate students pursuing MBA  courses or those who have completed the course can also apply if they hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communication or Journalism.
The duration of the internship will be of three to six months. An honorarium of Rs.10,000/- per month and a certificate of internship will be given to the candidates who successfully complete the program. The last date to apply for the program is 15th September, 2023. The eligible candidates can download the application form and access other details at: https://jalshakti-dowr.gov.in/document/notice-for-internship-of-mass-communication-last-date-15-sep-2023/.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
Department of Food and Public Distribution develops roadmap to roll out Online Storage Management  in the country
Reducing cost and enhancing efficiency of distribution:Centralized online storage management for monitoring of Central pool stock of foodgrains
The OSM to provide a single source of information for the food grains stored in the country for central pool through integrating State portals with the central portal
The OSM to develop an ecosystem of storage management applications across all states
16 states commits to develop/implement storage management applications
The Government, with its Digital India Programme initiative, has emphasized that computerization is the fuel for growth and helps the public machinery to efficiently and uniformly spread the outreach of various schemes run by the Government. The Department of F&PD strives to tap the benefits of automation in its various endeavours, especially following the principal that every ounce of foodgrains saved through scientific storage techniques should be considered as grain produced.
The Department of Food and Public Distribution under Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution with its principal agency, FCI, has developed a roadmap to roll out Online Storage Management  in the country. The OSM envisages putting in place a single source of information for the food grains stored in the country for central pool through integrating State portals with the central portal.
The OSM will develop an ecosystem of storage management applications across the DCP States, each being capable of capturing the Minimum Storage Specifications . These MSSs , which have been identified through intense and elaborate discussions with the concerned States and FCI are : capability to compute storage capacity , depict storage point-wise stock position , stack-wise, truck-wise linkage , quality parameters . This would help in route optimization for distribution as well.
In a meeting held on 21st Jan’22, under the Chairmanship of Secretary , Govt. of India and attended by Food Secretaries of all DCP States, FCI made a presentation on the progress in the initiative. During the presentation, it was emphasized that the States shall build their respective portals in a collaborative mode, to ensure that the best practices can be imbibed and disseminated among the States.
In the meeting, the sixteen  States  have reassured of their commitment to develop/implement storage management applications with MSSs and integrate them with the central portal.
This exercise, expected to be completed by Mar’22, will improve efficiency and transparency in stocking, storage, movement and distribution of foodgrains. It will help in driving down costs of food storage and distribution by checking leakages in the entire process. It will also enable the Government with readily available information for both monitoring and fast-paced decision making to benefit the stakeholders, especially PDS consumer whose welfare is the priority of the government.